Hi everybody!

I posted a couple of days ago regarding my ridiculously slow 512(!)kB/s virgin connection, which was running at less than half supposed speed. Some great advice and cablenut help from VanBuren (thanks for that!) cured the problem, but it happened again on the very next startup. I've now come to my wits end trying to fix it. Cablenut and DR TCP have been used with various configurations (following carefully the advice and guidelines from this site and dslreports.com), as well as many tweaks from dslreports. I've tried four different firewalls, limited and eventually stopped all non essential programs and tools from using the connection, re-booted again and again and again. I managed, after a cablenut settings .zip Vanburen passed on to me, managed to get 505kB/s down, but as I said it was rather short lived. I've checked for spyware/adware and viruses (using adaware, spybot s+d, Norton antivirus and AVG antivirus).
My system is a Compaq P4 2.6GHz, 256MB RAM, 60GB HDD (around half full). I am at the moment running the Kerio firewall (wanted Sygate but it kept crashing Windows). Could I have a registry problem or something similar? I don't think it should be my ISP, as their connection ratings seem high and no one I know using them has ever complained. I emailed virgin themselves a whole bunch of times, but for some reason they haven't mailed back...hmm.

Anyone willing to help would have my deepest gratitude, 'cause I am about to go severly nuts.

test and tweak results:

::::::::::.. Download Stats ..::::::::::
Connection is:: 172 Kbps about 0.2 Mbps (tested with 386 KB)
Download Speed is:: 21 kB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Test Time:: Fri Jan 28th 2005 2:47 AM GMT
Bottom Line:: 3X faster than 56K 1MB download in 48.76 sec
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/cgi-bin/get.cgi?Test_ID=KVZSTLBGN

::::::::::.. Upload Stats ..::::::::::
Connection is:: 40 Kbps about 0 Mbps (tested with 97 KB)
Upload Speed is:: 5 kB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Test Time:: Fri Jan 28th 2005 2:48 AM GMT
Bottom Line:: 1X faster than 56K 1MB download in 204.8 sec
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/cgi-bin/get.cgi?Test_ID=SUM3Z7O00

http://ttester.broadbandreports.com/tweak/block:1e80e3a?service=dsl&speed=512&os=winXP&via=normal

TCP/Web100 Network Diagnostic Tool v5.2.1e
click START to begin
Server Busy: Please wait 60 seconds for previous test to finish

click START to re-test
Checking for Middleboxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Done
running 10s outbound test (client to server) . . . . . 18.78kB/s
running 10s inbound test (server to client) . . . . . . 260.51kB/s
Your PC is connected to a Cable/DSL modem

click START to re-test

Tracing route to testmy.net [67.19.36.6]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    23 ms    27 ms    19 ms  brhm-bam-1.inet.ntl.com [194.145.148.5]
  2    19 ms    58 ms   105 ms  brhm-t2core-b-ge-wan71.inet.ntl.com [213.106.231
.185]
  3    27 ms    19 ms    19 ms  bir-bb-b-so-710-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.185.149]

  4    54 ms    58 ms    81 ms  bir-bb-a-ae0-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.185.153]
  5    23 ms    27 ms    58 ms  man-bb-b-so-700-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.185.134]

  6    31 ms    23 ms    31 ms  man-bb-a-ae0-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.187.177]
  7    27 ms    27 ms    34 ms  212.187.137.1
  8    50 ms    85 ms    46 ms  so-10-0.hsa1.manchesteruk1.level3.net [4.68.113.
97]
  9    39 ms    66 ms    26 ms  ae-1-0.bbr1.london2.level3.net [212.187.128.46]

 10   109 ms   105 ms   105 ms  as-0-0.bbr2.washington1.level3.net [4.68.128.102
]
 11   152 ms   163 ms   218 ms  ge-0-1-0.bbr1.dallas1.level3.net [64.159.1.109]

 12   171 ms   206 ms   210 ms  ge-1-2-54.car3.dallas1.level3.net [4.68.122.102]

 13   160 ms   148 ms   152 ms  4.78.220.10
 14   199 ms   171 ms   144 ms  dist-vlan31.dsr3-2.dllstx3.theplanet.com [70.85.
127.30]
 15   144 ms   144 ms   206 ms  dist-vlan22.dsr1-2.dllstx2.theplanet.com [70.85.
127.76]
 16   195 ms   175 ms   155 ms  dsr2-2-v1.dllstx4.theplanet.com [12.96.160.8]
 17   152 ms   155 ms   155 ms  gig1-0-1.tp-car9-2.dllstx4.theplanet.com [67.18.
116.70]
 18   152 ms   144 ms   144 ms  6.67-19-36.reverse.theplanet.com [67.19.36.6]

Trace complete.

Thanks everyone! Peace



 

I dont know if this would have a whole lot to do with your connection loss but your 2nd hop in your trace route is alittle high. 

 2    19 ms    58 ms   105 ms  brhm-t2core-b-ge-wan71.inet.ntl.com [213.106.231.185]

Ping that router and see what kind of connection your getting..It looks like its gonna have alot of fluctuation in it. If it does call your isp and tell them which hop and the ip you are getting high ping times on.

Hey there!

Thanks for the responses! Can't get over how good a community this forum generates.
Thanks for the cablenut tweaks VanBuren, I did everything you said, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to have worked:

::::::::::.. Download Stats ..::::::::::
Connection is:: 152 Kbps about 0.2 Mbps (tested with 386 KB)
Download Speed is:: 19 kB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Test Time:: Fri Jan 28th 2005 6:31 PM GMT
Bottom Line:: 3X faster than 56K 1MB download in 53.89 sec
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/id-T1SKNGPMC

::::::::::.. Upload Stats ..::::::::::
Connection is:: 35 Kbps about 0 Mbps (tested with 97 KB)
Upload Speed is:: 4 kB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Test Time:: Fri Jan 28th 2005 6:32 PM GMT
Bottom Line:: 1X faster than 56K 1MB download in 256 sec
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/id-5IARB7DHJ

I noticed the settings were the same as the one you sent me before (which worked), so I'm wondering...Is there a possibility that somehow XP is cleaning out the registry tweaks every reboot (though it didn't even work at first this time)? I'm a noob to tweaking as you can tell, my last 2 high speed accounts were both from a network and managed by others.
Now I use a normal adsl modem running through the filter that came with it.
I've been pinging that abnormally long hop too, it's averaging out around 150m/s, which as you noted is rather a long time...could it be something on my isp's end?

Really appreciate any help!

Peace.
 ;)

Hey VanBuren!

Thanks for helping! Here's my tweak results after the cublenut tweak:

 http://ttester.broadbandreports.com/tweak/block:5a02807?service=dsl&speed=512&os=winXP&via=normal

If my ISP is at fault is there anything specific I can berate them about? lol

Thanks!

 

Hey again!

Here's those results, thanks! Just hung up on Virgin, apparently they're going to call me back...I love talking to premium rate companies...*sigh*

TCP/Web100 Network Diagnostic Tool v5.2.1e
click START to begin
Checking for Middleboxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Done
running 10s outbound test (client to server) . . . . . 10.63kB/s
running 10s inbound test (server to client) . . . . . . 126.76kB/s
Your PC is connected to a Cable/DSL modem

click START to re-test

WEB100 Kernel Variables:
Client: localhost/127.0.0.1
AckPktsIn: 95
AckPktsOut: 0
BytesRetrans: 16060
CongAvoid: 0
CongestionOverCount: 0
CongestionSignals: 1
CountRTT: 55
CurCwnd: 16060
CurMSS: 1460
CurRTO: 4580
CurRwinRcvd: 65536
CurRwinSent: 5840
CurSsthresh: 32120
DSACKDups: 0
DataBytesIn: 0
DataBytesOut: 242360
DataPktsIn: 0
DataPktsOut: 166
DupAcksIn: 33
ECNEnabled: 0
FastRetran: 1
MaxCwnd: 65700
MaxMSS: 1460
MaxRTO: 5030
MaxRTT: 3160
MaxRwinRcvd: 65536
MaxRwinSent: 5840
MaxSsthresh: 32120
MinMSS: 1460
MinRTO: 1040
MinRTT: 320
MinRwinRcvd: 32768
MinRwinSent: 5840
NagleEnabled: 1
OtherReductions: 0
PktsIn: 95
PktsOut: 166
PktsRetrans: 11
X_Rcvbuf: 103424
SACKEnabled: 3
SACKsRcvd: 39
SendStall: 0
SlowStart: 46
SampleRTT: 780
SmoothedRTT: 2170
X_Sndbuf: 103424
SndLimTimeRwin: 4698645
SndLimTimeCwnd: 8805956
SndLimTimeSender: 4472
SndLimTransRwin: 1
SndLimTransCwnd: 2
SndLimTransSender: 1
SndLimBytesRwin: 24820
SndLimBytesCwnd: 217540
SndLimBytesSender: 0
SubsequentTimeouts: 0
SumRTT: 89010
Timeouts: 0
TimestampsEnabled: 0
WinScaleRcvd: 1
WinScaleSent: 7
DupAcksOut: 0
StartTimeUsec: 460187
Duration: 13526183
c2sData: 2
c2sAck: 1
s2cData: 9
s2cAck: 2

Checking for mismatch condition
   (cwndtime > .3) [0.65>.3], (MaxSsthresh > 0) [32120>0],
    (PktsRetrans/sec > 2) [0.84>2], (estimate > 2) [0.08>2]
Checking for mismatch on uplink
   (speed > 50 [0.14>50], (xmitspeed < 5) [0.01<5]
   (rwintime > .9) [0.34>.9], (loss < .01) [0.00<.01]
Checking for excessive errors condition
   (loss/sec > .15) [4.63>.15], (cwndtime > .6) [0.65>.6],
   (loss < .01) [0.00<.01], (MaxSsthresh > 0) [32120>0]
Checking for 10 Mbps link
   (speed < 9.5) [0.14<9.5], (speed > 3.0) [0.14>3.0]
   (xmitspeed < 9.5) [0.01<9.5] (loss < .01) [0.00<.01], (link > 0) [0>0]
Checking for Wireless link
   (sendtime = 0) [3.31=0], (speed < 5) [0.14<5]
   (Estimate > 50 [0.08>50], (Rwintime > 90) [0.34>.90]
    (RwinTrans/CwndTrans = 1) [1/2=1], (link > 0) [0>0]
Checking for DSL/Cable Modem link
   (speed < 2) [0.14<2], (SndLimTransSender = 0) [1=0]
    (SendTime = 0) [3.310367780231849E-4=0], (link > 0) [0>0]
Checking for half-duplex condition
   (rwintime > .95) [0.34>.95], (RwinTrans/sec > 30) [0.07>30],
    (SenderTrans/sec > 30) [0.07>30], OR (link <= 10) [0<=10]
Checking for congestion
   (cwndtime > .02) [0.65>.02], (mismatch = 0) [0=0]
   (MaxSsthresh > 0) [32120>0]

bw = 0.08 based on packet size = 11Kbits, RTT = 1618.36msec, and loss = 0.0060240961611270905
The theoretical network limit is 0.08 Mbps
The transmit buffer (101.0 KByte) limits the application to 0.48 Mbps
Your receive buffer (64.0 KByte) limits the application to 0.30 Mbps
The network based flow control limits the application to 0.30 Mbps

Client Data reports link is 'T1', Client Acks report link is 'Dial-up'
Server Data reports link is '10 Gig', Server Acks report link is 'T1'

Cheers!

 

Hope you're not getting bored of me! Thanks for the patience man!

click START to begin
Checking for Middleboxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Done
running 10s outbound test (client to server) . . . . . 10.63kB/s
running 10s inbound test (server to client) . . . . . . 126.76kB/s
Your PC is connected to a Cable/DSL modem

click START to re-test
Checking for Middleboxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Done
running 10s outbound test (client to server) . . . . . 11.55kB/s
running 10s inbound test (server to client) . . . . . . 133.58kB/s
Your PC is connected to a Cable/DSL modem

click START to re-test

WEB100 Kernel Variables:
Client: localhost/127.0.0.1
AckPktsIn: 97
AckPktsOut: 0
BytesRetrans: 14600
CongAvoid: 0
CongestionOverCount: 0
CongestionSignals: 1
CountRTT: 55
CurCwnd: 17520
CurMSS: 1460
CurRTO: 4220
CurRwinRcvd: 65536
CurRwinSent: 5840
CurSsthresh: 32120
DSACKDups: 0
DataBytesIn: 0
DataBytesOut: 239440
DataPktsIn: 0
DataPktsOut: 164
DupAcksIn: 33
ECNEnabled: 0
FastRetran: 1
MaxCwnd: 65700
MaxMSS: 1460
MaxRTO: 4860
MaxRTT: 3070
MaxRwinRcvd: 65536
MaxRwinSent: 5840
MaxSsthresh: 32120
MinMSS: 1460
MinRTO: 990
MinRTT: 330
MinRwinRcvd: 32768
MinRwinSent: 5840
NagleEnabled: 1
OtherReductions: 0
PktsIn: 97
PktsOut: 164
PktsRetrans: 10
X_Rcvbuf: 103424
SACKEnabled: 3
SACKsRcvd: 42
SendStall: 0
SlowStart: 46
SampleRTT: 710
SmoothedRTT: 2110
X_Sndbuf: 103424
SndLimTimeRwin: 4305774
SndLimTimeCwnd: 8713031
SndLimTimeSender: 4535
SndLimTransRwin: 1
SndLimTransCwnd: 2
SndLimTransSender: 1
SndLimBytesRwin: 24820
SndLimBytesCwnd: 214620
SndLimBytesSender: 0
SubsequentTimeouts: 0
SumRTT: 90950
Timeouts: 0
TimestampsEnabled: 0
WinScaleRcvd: 1
WinScaleSent: 7
DupAcksOut: 0
StartTimeUsec: 755903
Duration: 13039354
c2sData: 2
c2sAck: 0
s2cData: 9
s2cAck: 2

Checking for mismatch condition
   (cwndtime > .3) [0.66>.3], (MaxSsthresh > 0) [32120>0],
    (PktsRetrans/sec > 2) [0.76>2], (estimate > 2) [0.08>2]
Checking for mismatch on uplink
   (speed > 50 [0.14>50], (xmitspeed < 5) [0.01<5]
   (rwintime > .9) [0.33>.9], (loss < .01) [0.00<.01]
Checking for excessive errors condition
   (loss/sec > .15) [4.69>.15], (cwndtime > .6) [0.66>.6],
   (loss < .01) [0.00<.01], (MaxSsthresh > 0) [32120>0]
Checking for 10 Mbps link
   (speed < 9.5) [0.14<9.5], (speed > 3.0) [0.14>3.0]
   (xmitspeed < 9.5) [0.01<9.5] (loss < .01) [0.00<.01], (link > 0) [0>0]
Checking for Wireless link
   (sendtime = 0) [3.48=0], (speed < 5) [0.14<5]
   (Estimate > 50 [0.08>50], (Rwintime > 90) [0.33>.90]
    (RwinTrans/CwndTrans = 1) [1/2=1], (link > 0) [0>0]
Checking for DSL/Cable Modem link
   (speed < 2) [0.14<2], (SndLimTransSender = 0) [1=0]
    (SendTime = 0) [3.4822096328591593E-4=0], (link > 0) [0>0]
Checking for half-duplex condition
   (rwintime > .95) [0.33>.95], (RwinTrans/sec > 30) [0.07>30],
    (SenderTrans/sec > 30) [0.07>30], OR (link <= 10) [0<=10]
Checking for congestion
   (cwndtime > .02) [0.66>.02], (mismatch = 0) [0=0]
   (MaxSsthresh > 0) [32120>0]

bw = 0.08 based on packet size = 11Kbits, RTT = 1653.63msec, and loss = 0.006097560748457909
The theoretical network limit is 0.08 Mbps
The transmit buffer (101.0 KByte) limits the application to 0.47 Mbps
Your receive buffer (64.0 KByte) limits the application to 0.30 Mbps
The network based flow control limits the application to 0.30 Mbps

Client Data reports link is 'T1', Client Acks report link is 'RTT'
Server Data reports link is '10 Gig', Server Acks report link is 'T1'

Cable modem/DSL/T1 link found.
Link set to Half Duplex mode
No network congestion discovered.
Good network cable(s) found
Normal duplex operation found.

Web100 reports the Round trip time = 1653.63 msec; the Packet size = 1460 Bytes; and
There were 10 packets retransmitted, 33 duplicate acks received, and 42 SACK blocks received
The connection was idle 0 seconds (0%) of the time
This connection is receiver limited 33.06% of the time.
This connection is network limited 66.90% of the time.
  Contact your local network administrator to report a network problem
  Contact your local network admin and report excessive packet reordering

    Web100 reports TCP negotiated the optional Performance Settings to:
RFC 2018 Selective Acknowledgment: ON
RFC 896 Nagle Algorithm: ON
RFC 3168 Explicit Congestion Notification: OFF
RFC 1323 Time Stamping: OFF
RFC 1323 Window Scaling: ON
Packet size is preserved End-to-End
Server IP addresses are preserved End-to-End
Client IP addresses are preserved End-to-End

Peace!

 ;)

Thanks for all that, I'll get onto the SOB's straight away!

Appreciate all the work VanBuren.

Peace.